BCE Inc (BCE.TO) posted a quarterly profit that narrowly beat analysts' estimates on Thursday, as higher additions in its postpaid wireless business offset a rise in expenses.

The company also forecast an adjusted profit of $3.42-$3.52 for 2018, higher than the $3.39 it reported for 2017.

BCE said it added 175,000 postpaid wireless customers on a net basis in the fourth quarter, up nearly 56 per cent from a year earlier. Morgan Stanley had estimated 121,000 subscribers for the quarter.

The jump in wireless additions comes as rival Rogers Communications Inc (RCIb.TO) reported 35,000 deactivations last month due to a technical glitch during the company's peak promotion season ahead of Christmas.

Analysts were expecting rivals BCE and Telus (T.TO) to gain from those defections.

The telecom and media company also said its quarterly dividend to common shareholders will rise 3.75 cents to 75.5 cents per share for a total of $3.02 per year starting with its payment in April.

Net income attributable to BCE's shareholders fell 12.5 per cent to $575 million, or 64 Canadian cents per share, partly hurt by asset impairment charges of $82 million.

Excluding items, the company earned 76 Canadian cents per share, beating the average analyst estimate by 1 Canadian cent, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

The Montreal-based company, popularly known as Bell, said operating revenue rose 4.5 per cent to $5.96 billion.

BNN is a division of Bell Media, which is owned by BCE.